Yirmeyah 35:16

16 Indeed the Bnei Yonadav Ben Rechav have carried out the mitzvat avihem, which he commanded them; but this people hath not paid heed unto Me:

Yirmeyah 35:16 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 35:16

Because the son of Jonadab the son of Rechab
Here we have the contrast between the Rechabites and the Israelites; the obedience of the one, and the disobedience of the other; the design of which is to aggravate and expose the sin of the Jews, since the former have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded
them;
that particular commandment of not drinking wine, which they had never once violated in such a course of time; nor could they now be prevailed upon, even by the prophet himself, to do it: but this people hath not hearkened unto me;
the Lord their God, their father that bought them, made them, and established them. Gross ingratitude! ( Deuteronomy 32:6 ) .

Yirmeyah 35:16 In-Context

14 The devarim of Yonadav Ben Rechav, that he commanded his banim not to drink yayin, has been carried out; for unto this day they drink none, but obey the mitzvat avihem; notwithstanding, I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye paid heed not unto Me.

15 I have sent also unto you all My avadim the Nevi’im, rising up early and sending them, saying, Turn ye now every ish from his derech hara’ah, and amend your doings, and go not after elohim acherim to serve them, and ye shall dwell in ha’adamah which I have given to you and to avoteichem; but ye have not inclined your ozen (ear), nor paid heed unto Me.

16 Indeed the Bnei Yonadav Ben Rechav have carried out the mitzvat avihem, which he commanded them; but this people hath not paid heed unto Me:

17 Therefore, thus saith Hashem Elohei Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel: Hineni, I will bring upon Yehudah and upon all the inhabitants of Yerushalayim all the ra’ah that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken unto them, but they have not paid heed; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.

18 And Yirmeyah said unto the Bais Rechavim, Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel; Because ye have obeyed the mitzvat Yonadav avichem, and have been shomer over all his mitzvot, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you,